Richard O'Toole, 73, was arrested in May after a probation officer, during a routine search of O'Toole's home, found a pornographic video, a pornographic image on a computer jump drive, and a pornographic sculpture. O'Toole was forbidden from possessing such items as a condition of his sex offender probation.

I'm all for punishing sex offenders, but does anyone really think requiring them to avoid all masturbatory aides is a good idea? Sure, no child porn, but I'd rather have a tired and spent 73 year-old molester running around rather than a sexually frustrated 73 year-old molester on probation.

Lsherm:I'm all for punishing sex offenders, but does anyone really think requiring them to avoid all masturbatory aides is a good idea? Sure, no child porn, but I'd rather have a tired and spent 73 year-old molester running around rather than a sexually frustrated 73 year-old molester on probation.

While that sounds reasonable, I'm honestly not sure about the psychology behind this stuff. It is also highly possible that allowing them to have pornographic material will cause them to think more about sex which could cause them to hype themselves up and reinforce their desires. Of course, the punishment may also have absolutely nothing to do with recommendations from a psychological standpoint.

Oh, those crazy fundie Protestants! From the comments to the story -- "What type of monster has the audacity to do what he did and use the house of the Lord has his personal hunting grounds to prey upon innocent children?"

Gawdzila: It is also highly possible that allowing them to have pornographic material watch the Disney Channel will cause them to think more about sex

with children which could cause them to hype themselves up and reinforce their desires. Of course, the punishment may also have absolutely nothing to do with recommendations from a psychological standpoint.

How did he get probation on a 13 year sentence after two years? Is there a form of affirmative action like discrimination where he got early probation because of his former occupation of a church leader? If so, then all the better that he's going back. No nonbeliever would be able to convince that they are more moral than most because of their former status as a religious leader. As this guy proved, church leaders are as awful as everyone else. And their victims are religious, so they are more trusting and gullible and can be told that jeebus would not love them anymore if they commit the sin of contacting authorities. If he hadn't tried to manipulate the kids he molested into not reporting by means of a religious argument, I'll eat raw chicken. And I bet he made several sermons on how homosexuals are evil and pedophiles, like very many Christians believe. This case and the catholic church molestations make it seem that religion, not homosexuality, is the danger to children. I have not seen a case of a gay man molesting children, but I've seen very many cases ofC hristians molesting kids.

Lsherm:Richard O'Toole, 73, was arrested in May after a probation officer, during a routine search of O'Toole's home, found a pornographic video, a pornographic image on a computer jump drive, and a pornographic sculpture. O'Toole was forbidden from possessing such items as a condition of his sex offender probation.

I'm all for punishing sex offenders, but does anyone really think requiring them to avoid all masturbatory aides is a good idea? Sure, no child porn, but I'd rather have a tired and spent 73 year-old molester running around rather than a sexually frustrated 73 year-old molester on probation.

I hadn't thought of it that way. That makes a lot of sense. The pornography probably wasn't the child kind because they didn't say it was, and so he can't really fantasize children, at least without a vivid imagination. I would really like to know if it was straight or gay porn. If it was straight, it would validate the fact that most pedophiles are straight or not attracted to adults.